Fiscal Cliff: Byron Defense Contractor Fears Current Administration Will Make Drastic Defense Cuts

BYRON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Even if the fiscal cliff is avoided, co-owner of U.S. Technology Aerospace Engineering, Ed Wasson fears defense cuts are coming.

Wasson’s company builds parts to keep existing military equipment up and running. He says if cuts come down, his business won’t be hit as hard as new weapons or modernization programs.

He describes his business as a roller coaster. As cuts have come down from Washington in the past, Wasson says they’ve gone from 60 to 6 employees over a six month period.

Right now, USTAE has two years of contract work to complete. A bulk of their work comes from Robins Air Force Base, while they also support aircraft maintenance at Tinker AFB and Ogden AFB.

Wasson says his company has spent the last year building back up there workforce to 60 employees on hand right now, but he fears if the cuts are deep enough in two years they might have to close their doors.

“I think the current administration is very adamant about cutting defense and eventually I think that’s going to impact us,” says Wasson.

We’ll have more on this story tonight on 41NBC at 6, plus an update from Washington as the fiscal cliff talks continue today.